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I don't know what I could say that would help. The wait was 6 months when we started and it took 9 months almost to the day for our referral and then 2 months from referral to travel. When our referral did not come in October like we had expected, it was hard. But when we missed the December referral batch, I thought that I would never see our daughter! Then, CCAA sent out a batch right after the first of the year - I hoped, I prayed, I begged and we missed it by 2 days!!!!! I entered a semi-comatose state where I realized that our daughter was coming and it was something that was totally out of my control. I had to flow with it and trust that she just isn't ready yet.
CCAA sent out a mini batch 3 weeks later and we got our daughter's picture. She truly is our perfect daughter, the best of my husband and the best of me! She is sweet and sensitive and a little stinker, all in one. (Me being the sweet one - of course!) Somehow, once we had a picture, the wait to travel didn't seem so bad. As a matter of fact, it snuck up on me.
Gotcha Day was a blur. We just walked in the civil affairs office and walked up to our daughter (She and her 6 orphanage-mates were in walkers). Her nanny came over, asked us her name and then handed her to me. I didn't even remember this until I watched our "Gotcha" video. We have been home for 12 days and it is as though Natalie has been our daughter forever. She is as much a part of us as the air we breathe.
I can't make the wait go easier, or less painfully. But I can say that it is truly worth it! And the memory of the wait fades as soon as your baby is placed in your arms!
One truly blissful Mommy to Natalie!
Sue
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